Chapter Text
Link found himself in a lot of strange situations before, but nothing more strange than where he was now!
It'd been years since he wrote his last fanfiction, it was one he thought to be his best yet! But tragedy struck, which left him in such a great depression he hadn't written a word since. Yet here he was, in a room full of writers, and amongst them was his greatest crush: pop idol, and top Stitch Streamer, Cia.
Cia had been leading this group of writers to create the greatest fanfiction ever written, as part of a contest held by the Game Center Convention. Link had only wanted to get his idols autograph, he barely even knew how he'd gotten himself wrapped up in all of this!
“Now if we want to write the greatest fanfiction ever we're going to have to work together in perfect harmony!” Cia directed, “You should all get into groups to brainstorm ideas, then we'll bring them together to start the drafting process!!” Link pressed himself to the corner to avoid the gaze of the other writers as each searched for a brainstorming partner. A few had approached him, to which he gave each a vague shake of the head and a polite smile, eventually the only people left without a partner were him and a short and shy redhead, who's flushed face was dotted with freckles.
“Um miss Cia?” The redhead turned to the streamer, her platinum hair framed her face perfectly, the strands danced as she turned her head to face the boy and Link who had nearly been entranced by the streamer's beauty.
“Yes, Malachi? Are you doing alright?” Her voice was soft like silk, music to Link's ears.
Malachi pointed directly at Link, which caused the man to jump a bit in surprise, a nervous scowl painted his face.
“He doesn't want to work with anyone,” Malachi snitched, the audacity of this kid! Though he looked to be around Link's age.. he was a freaking narc so he’s been demoted from man to boy in Link's eyes.
Cia patted the boy on the shoulder, she pointed a finger towards a group of two, and sent the boy over to work with them while she handled the trouble maker, which Link assumed was him..
“Now what seems to be the issue here? You don't want to write?” Cia questioned, her tone light and gentle. Link's shoulders slumped and he turned away from his idol, his feet moved on their own towards the door.
“I don't write,” He replied flatly, Cia gave a shake of her head, a light chuckle escaped her lips.
“Then why are you here? You know this is for the writing contest right?”
“Yeah I know, it wasn't really my choice to come here,”
“Well if you're already here why don't you try it out, it'll be fun!” Cia clapped her hands together ushering the man back towards the room. Link had been given a choice, join the group, and hang out with his favorite person, or leave and miss out his chance on getting closer to Cia.
“Can I just watch for now?” Link asked sheepishly, as much as he did not want to participate, he desperately wanted to get closer to Cia. They had already been acquainted since the convention had started, they'd even had a bit of fun but it was normal to have fun with people you meet at a convention and not, future best friend or more kind of fun…
Cia seemed to deeply consider Link's proposition, she had definitely plotted something in her own mind when she'd held out a hand to Link for him to take. But who was Link to say no to such a great opportunity to be with his idol.
“You can watch, for now,” Was all she'd said before she'd dragged him back to the others, together they watched and supervised the groups. Link actually seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit, in Cia's opinion, she could see the love of the art of writing in his eyes. In the way he leaned in closely to listen to the explanation of everyone's ideas, the nod along, it almost seemed like he would join in at times, but each fleeting moment of engagement would disappear as fast as it'd come.
Eventually it was time to begin drafting, and once again Cia watched as Link retreated away from the crowd to his isolated corner by the window.
“Link, what are you doing? Come on and write with us,” Cia followed behind Link who refused to look at her.
“I told you I don't write,” Link still refused to meet her gaze, his eyes glued to the outside view from the window.
“But you have to,”
“Sorry, I can't,”
“You can, you just won't!” Cia was close to losing her temper now.
“Fine. I just won't.”
“You have to!”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“NO!”
“Why not, why won't you just write?!” Cia snapped, her voice cracked with her shout. Link's head whipped around to face her, tears glistened in his deep blue eyes.
“BECAUSE WRITING KILLED MY GRANDMA OKAY?!” Link shouted, his voice echoed throughout the writing hall, which caused all heads to turn to the two arguing, all conversation silenced.
“Now leave me alone..”
“My uncle broke his neck typewriting once,” a hushed whisper came from the crowd, inaudible to the now distraught man from the window.
Cia was too stunned to speak, her eyes followed the man as he curled in on himself in the corner, lost in his own grief. She took careful steps towards him, as to not startle him as she kneeled down to his level.
“How did writing kill your grandma, what fic was she writing?” Cia asked gently, Link's sad wet eyes peering up at her.
“I was the one writing..” Link began, the scene fading into a flashback. Link was seen tapping away at his phone, his grandmother close behind, both in absentminded conversation as Link began the outline for his greatest fic yet.
(And I need you now tonight~
And I need you more than ever~)
“That day, I was so lost in the sauce of writing,” Past Link, tapped the next few words of his fanfiction, his eyes so transfixed on his writing he didn't notice the crosswalk change. Truck-kun speeds its way towards the green light, only Link's grandmother taking notice of the on coming tragedy, her voice comes out in a shout, “Link, watch out!” but Link continues.
(And if you only hold me tight~
We'll be holding on forever~)
“I didn't hear my grandma trying to warn me-”
His grandmother runs towards him, pushing other pedestrians out of the way and onto the sidewalk to reach her grandson.
(And we'll only be making it right~
'Cause we'll never be wrong~)
“Watch out, Link!!” His grandmother's voice cries out, Link turns his head finally seeing the incoming truck-kun, but he can barely react when he's pushed out of the way of the oncoming vehicle, his grandmother taking the blow for herself, her mind, body, and soul getting isekai'd into another world.
“Grandma!!!” Link shouted in vain.
The flashback ends, Link stares out the window, a hand pressed against the glass. The other writers gathered behind him in shared sympathy.
(Once upon a time there was light in his life, but now there's only love in the dark~ nothing he can say- a total eclipse of the heart~)
“I haven't written a word since,” Link sighed, turning to face Cia once again.
“I'm so sorry, Link, I had no idea.. I just assumed you had terrible prose.” Cia said in an attempt at comfort.
“No no, it was like an angels.. at least, that's what grandma used to say.” Link pouted.
Cia slowly stepped towards the pathetic man, her arms wrapped him tightly in a hug, his cheeks flushed a deep red.
“Woah what are you doing-?” His voice cracked as he asked, Cia only held him tighter, and let out a soft chuckle.
“Sorry, I just thought you needed one,”
Link sighed and leaned into her touch, grateful for her kindness despite his outburst.
"Thank you.."